TCA Thursday, Aug. 1: Simon Cowell baby news Simon Cowell did a good job dodging questions at the Television Critics Association Summer Press tour today in regards to him expecting a child with 36-year-old, New York socialite Lauren Silverman, who is also the wife of his close friend Andrew Silverman.

When a critic congratulated Simon about his new addition he played dumb asking, “You mean the girls?” Referencing the new The X Factor judges Paulina Rubio and Kelly Rowland. But he wasn’t about to get off that easy, as the critic elaborated: “The addition to your family, and was that as much of a surprise to you as it was to us? And does that have any effect going forward on your schedule?”

Still coy, he says: “I haven’t read the newspapers. Am I missing something?” And then his fellow colleagues came to his defense, where new judge Kelly Rowland chimes in saying “I don’t think you’re missing anything” and Demi Lovato tells him, “Even if you did read the newspaper, I feel like you don’t have to answer anything you don’t want to answer.”

The critic shared that he indeed has no obligation to comment on the situation and he sincerely meant to pass along a congratulatory gesture. But Cowell is no stranger to questions involving his private life, and he eloquently shared with a grin on his face [note photo is not from session today but an earlier press event in June], “I appreciate the question. Unfortunately, I have to keep this, for the moment, private, but it’s just one of those things, but thank you very much anyway.”

Later, another critic tried a different approach to getting some insight on the situation, asking the other judges what type of father they thought Simon would make. Cowell, nodding his head in amusement, saying: “clever.” But his fellow judges weren’t about to throw him under the bus and Lovato was quick to jump to his defense immediately saying”no comment.” Host Mario Lopez said, “he’s a hell of a producer. We’ll tell you that.”